Network & Computer Systems Administrators

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Information Technology Specialist (IT Specialist), Local Area Network Administrator (LAN Administrator), Network Administrator, Systems Administrator

What they do:
Install, configure, and maintain an organization's local area network (LAN), wide area network (WAN), data communications network, operating systems, and physical and virtual servers. Perform system monitoring and verify the integrity and availability of hardware, network, and server resources and systems. Review system and application logs and verify completion of scheduled jobs, including system backups. Analyze network and server resource consumption and control user access. Install and upgrade software and maintain software licenses. May assist in network modeling, analysis, planning, and coordination between network and data communications hardware and software.
On the job, you would:
  • Maintain and administer computer networks and related computing environments, including computer hardware, systems software, applications software, and all configurations.
  • Perform data backups and disaster recovery operations.
  • Diagnose, troubleshoot, and resolve hardware, software, or other network and system problems, and replace defective components when necessary.

Knowledge

Engineering and Technology

  • computers and electronics
  • product and service development

Arts and Humanities

  • English language

Business

  • customer service
  • administrative services

Communications

  • telecommunications

Skills

Basic Skills

  • reading work related information
  • thinking about the pros and cons of different ways to solve a problem

People and Technology Systems

  • figuring out how a system should work and how changes in the future will affect it
  • thinking about the pros and cons of different options and picking the best one

Problem Solving

  • noticing a problem and figuring out the best way to solve it

Abilities

Verbal

  • read and understand what is written
  • communicate by speaking

Ideas and Logic

  • notice when problems happen
  • order or arrange things

Math

  • add, subtract, multiply, or divide
  • choose the right type of math to solve a problem

Personality

People interested in this work like activities that include data, detail, and regular routines.

They do well at jobs that need:

  • Attention to Detail
  • Analytical Thinking
  • Dependability
  • Integrity
  • Cooperation
  • Independence

Technology

You might use software like this on the job:

Web platform development software

  • Django Hot Technology
  • Microsoft ASP.NET Hot Technology

Data base user interface and query software

  • Blackboard software
  • Transact-SQL Hot Technology

Network monitoring software

  • Remote monitoring software
  • Wireshark

Education

Education: (rated 4 of 5)
bachelor's degree or
associate's degree
usually needed

Get started on your career:

Find Training
Apprenticeship.gov

Job Outlook

Below Average
New job opportunities are less likely in the future.
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